tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post7781723588573139895..comments2015-03-31T17:58:02.861-04:00Comments on Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: MONDAY, Sep. 15, 2008 - Sharon E. Petersen (Bygone Dodge S.U.V. / Pago Pago's home / TV opera "_____ and the Night Visitors")Rex Parkerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16145707733877505087noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61154371363840408332008-10-27T18:32:00.000-04:002008-10-27T18:32:00.000-04:00now again back to 6wl and getting dizzy from time ...now again back to 6wl and getting dizzy from time travel...<BR/><BR/>I would like to take credit for emasculating the term "Guys" many years ago. I used to get strange looks using it in mixed company, but it is now widely accepted.<BR/><BR/>- - RobertAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-38965163210003086892008-09-16T09:36:00.000-04:002008-09-16T09:36:00.000-04:00Since the commentary is much about opera and the S...Since the commentary is much about opera and the SF tournament, you might like to know that the third-place winner, NPLer Joshua Kosman, is the classical music critic of the San Francisco Chronicle! Maybe many of you recognized his name.slughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836951896916067008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2671687871195061222008-09-16T08:44:00.000-04:002008-09-16T08:44:00.000-04:00Hey guys (see how I did that?) -- Enough with the ...Hey guys (see how I did that?) -- Enough with the spoilage already!PuzzleGirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06835502266781516627noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-5431820060647277322008-09-16T06:06:00.000-04:002008-09-16T06:06:00.000-04:00Geez, Andrea, I left you out! I ran through the c...Geez, Andrea, I left you out! I ran through the comments on Monday and missed your considerable charm.<BR/><BR/>I checked the standings and saw your finish at 27th and meant to congratulation you but, since I didn't know anybody else's real name, I couldn't congratulate Fergus, our lovely insect or karmasartre.Bill from NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10103923612595508277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-14908311539370844892008-09-16T02:55:00.000-04:002008-09-16T02:55:00.000-04:00Same goes for me, Andrea. It annoyed me to have th...Same goes for me, Andrea. It annoyed me to have that one blemish after such struggle with the fourth puzzle, and spending seemingly superfluous minutes down to the wire to keep the record clean.fergushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-82754070402935941342008-09-16T02:32:00.000-04:002008-09-16T02:32:00.000-04:00@fnorgThanks! Just found out myself! But one pes...@fnorg<BR/><BR/>Thanks! Just found out myself! But one pesky S for an E (which I will complain about bitterly and at length on Thurs) knocked me out of the top ten!<BR/>;)acmeacmenaming.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52994659212727634472008-09-16T02:13:00.000-04:002008-09-16T02:13:00.000-04:00Hey guys!@bill from njGreen mantis, Fergus and I a...Hey guys!<BR/><BR/>@bill from nj<BR/>Green mantis, Fergus and I also posted our thoughts very late Sat night if you want to go back and see how hip I thought green mantis was!<BR/><BR/>@karmasartre<BR/>where do I send the check?andrea carla michaelsacmenaming.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85250626671886154432008-09-16T02:10:00.000-04:002008-09-16T02:10:00.000-04:00Thanks, KarmaSartre. Interesting; I see that a num...Thanks, KarmaSartre. Interesting; I see that a number of NPL (National Puzzlers League) folks showed up, including at least three of the top five placers. And ACM did well!fnorgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-2056794354349115802008-09-16T00:18:00.000-04:002008-09-16T00:18:00.000-04:00@joho, just applying a dusting to my peruke as I p...@joho, just applying a dusting to my peruke as I prepare to retire. <BR/><BR/>Guys and Dolls ends happily with Nathan and Adelaide's long-awaited wedding ("Finale"), Nathan having gone (almost) straight. They are joined by Sarah and Sky, who has joined the mission and married Sarah.<BR/><BR/>Hey, just like this blog! Tonight!dkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17317008233459295376noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-33594067181525091142008-09-15T23:21:00.000-04:002008-09-15T23:21:00.000-04:00Thank you fergus, green mantis and karmasartre for...Thank you fergus, green mantis and karmasartre for your insight-laden posts about the Bay Area Crossword Tournament. Perhaps it will grow so all you Left Coast folks won't have such prodigous travel times<BR/><BR/>And to echo jane doe. perhaps we won't be so quick to generalize about the age or sex of the constructors in the future.Bill from NJhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10103923612595508277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-54559100163380604952008-09-15T23:20:00.000-04:002008-09-15T23:20:00.000-04:00@fnorg -- I see the results are now posted at baya...@fnorg -- I see the results are now posted at bayareacrosswords(dot)org/final(dot)htmKarmaSartrenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41564204133095084412008-09-15T23:14:00.000-04:002008-09-15T23:14:00.000-04:00P.S. Thanks, Rex, for reproducing M.Quinion's lett...P.S. Thanks, Rex, for reproducing M.Quinion's letter to "Barenaked Lady" on 17A:BUCKNAKED! --NDENoam D. Elkiesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-61091780203770617522008-09-15T22:54:00.000-04:002008-09-15T22:54:00.000-04:00@ulrich True enough. Opera is generally too powe...@ulrich True enough. Opera is generally too powerful and exagerated a medium to really work on television, but that's not really my point. Television is as television does; it reflects the tastes of the culture that watches. Nobody puts AMAHL on general television any longer simply because there is no audience for it. That's what makes me a bit sad for our culture.<BR/><BR/>In the 1950s "popular" and "classical" cultures were much more closely aligned, and the public was atuned to this. This allowed serious composers like Menotti, Bernstein, and even Aaron Copland (so help me) to cross over with serious works, written in a more accessible style, on television or on Broadway -- works written for and enjoyed by wide scale audiences.<BR/><BR/>If you've ever seen AMAHL, it's really an adaption of Menotti's grand operatic tradition made much more intimate. He really knew how to write for television and it shows. It's operatic in style if not in quantity of deployed forces (much as a string quartet can be symphonic in scope, but still be played by four musicians). A truely charming work which was not intended to start a series of operas written for television (ugh), but merely a heartwarming Christmas tale, intelligently written, and meant to be shared with intelligent, educated viewers (of which I expect there were more then).<BR/><BR/>No, I don't think TV is dumb. I think our culture is dumb. Man...I am WAY off puzzle topic. Sorry Rex. I gladly abandon my soapbox. Please feel free to delete at will.greenenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-88263892105788453032008-09-15T22:21:00.000-04:002008-09-15T22:21:00.000-04:00The "guys" and Hofstadter threads remind me of som...The "guys" and Hofstadter threads remind me of something from his _Scientific_American_ column. (I didn't read all the comments above, so I apologize if someone already told this.) He said he was have a discussion with some woman at a party about whether "guys" was gender-neutral. He said it wasn't, and she said it was. At one point she said, "I've even heard guys use it to refer to a bunch of women." And Douglas pointed out that she'd just won the argument for him!Badirnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-69257673162675747972008-09-15T22:14:00.000-04:002008-09-15T22:14:00.000-04:00Nice Monday puzzle with lots of testosterone in th...Nice Monday puzzle with lots of testosterone in the theme and elsewhere, even though the constructor is a woman. Was this meant to ease our transition from teen boy frenzy to demographic indifference? I'm there.<BR/><BR/>--JDJane Dohhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06121774603671545699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-45829249510278385202008-09-15T22:06:00.000-04:002008-09-15T22:06:00.000-04:00Thanks for the incisive Alameda report, KS. I trie...Thanks for the incisive Alameda report, KS. I tried to check out that bayareatournament thingie or whatever, but all I could get was a pointer to some Yahoo group, which I don't care to join. So . . . given that Byron Walden was among the contestants, I'm curious to know: who actually *won* that thing? And how many people participated?Fnorgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85677888718667185692008-09-15T22:00:00.000-04:002008-09-15T22:00:00.000-04:00Fergus, that guy was Eric Levasseur. Imagine my su...Fergus, that guy was Eric Levasseur. Imagine my surprise at the ACPT to discover that he and I were both wearing our "Merv Griffin's Crosswords" watches (I swear I was wearing only ironically, as it was sent to me with a semi-literate letter stating "enclosed is your gents watch" and it was ginormous) <I>and</I> our crossword-grid Vans. I think Rex has those shoes, too.Orangehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12433254398377357737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-68751983324557974172008-09-15T20:56:00.000-04:002008-09-15T20:56:00.000-04:00@greene: I do not dispute the judgment implied in ...@greene: I do not dispute the judgment implied in your comment about the general quality of today's TV--in fact, there are whole weeks in which I do not watch a single show meant for entertainment (a <B>huge</B> handicap for a solver BTW). But I want to explore the implications of what you said a little further.<BR/><BR/>The story I always heard was that TV tried, in its initial years, (a) to gain respectability, while (b) trying to figure out what the inherent possibilities of the medium were; i.e. what makes it <B>different</B> from the other media. So, it tried opera, but then stopped b/c it discovered sitcoms (I'm simplifying here).<BR/><BR/>Is this altogether bad? I'm not sure. Opera is not meant to be watched on TV--it's meant to be seen live with voices powerful enough to be heard above a 100+ orchestra (I'm not going into the discussion of miking operas here). This is the real thrill, and it's completely lost on TV. TV <B>can</B> be good when it tries to be just good TV--there have been hugely entertaining sitcoms, and I'm really addicted to well-written and well-acted drama series, like Deadwood. It's only on TV where you can get those. We did not have them in the early years, and they are a real gain (I'm not even talking here about live sports, where TV is unbeatable).Ulrichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02086202853174403008noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-41538908947340806672008-09-15T19:45:00.000-04:002008-09-15T19:45:00.000-04:00When the NERD answer came up on Saturday morning i...When the NERD answer came up on Saturday morning in that cafeteria, I wonder whether the self-recognition was unanimous? Probably most of us wouldn't truly qualify, but there were a couple of archetypical stereotypes, or stereotypical archetypes. Perhaps they were the only ones who didn't feel that flush of self-recognition when entering the answer? I'm thinking of the guy to the right of Green Mantis who was sporting brilliantly clashing colors and spotless crossword grid motif shoes. He came in second place. And the guy to my far left who, while amiable enough, saw no point in any discussion about fill or construction. He came in third. I gleaned few observations about the ultimate winner, except one could say he might be described as having a classically solid solver's athletic build.<BR/><BR/>The amusing revelations also extend to hearing about what others may have conceived about you from how you come across in print. Glad, for example, that Karmasartre didn't think me too much of an aged, dissolute hipster. He, by the way, completely lived up to the elegance, eloquence and wit of his writing style.<BR/><BR/>Though this wasn't the easiest of puzzles, I was glad to be able to fill it in with no doubts about any of the squares being correct. It would have been a real bummer if the first puzzle had any ambiguity about it.fergushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056002311944010536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-7663252221716978352008-09-15T19:00:00.000-04:002008-09-15T19:00:00.000-04:00wow, how I missed you guys! That includes the fema...wow, how I missed you guys! That includes the females, the feminists and the nerds (not mutually exclusive categories). I thought about Wade and the storm... And I was so sorry to miss the west coast tournament, when I was in fact in the Bay Area late last week including Saturday. But I was in Napa at a fundraising event for brain disorders. The food was wonderful, the wine amazing and the cause very close to my heart. So, it was so sad to come back and read about a tragic suicide. Whenever it happens, I feel that I should keep on working till I'm a 100, or until we figure this out. <BR/><BR/> But it was also great fun to hear about the tournament. After enjoying Karmasartre description, I went back and read the posts from Green Mantis, Andrea and Fergus. You all made it come alive for me. I don't know what it is about Fergus that suggests lanky with salt and pepper hair to me as well. And I would have guessed that Green Mantis would have a wickedly brilliant smile (and a funky car?). I know what Andrea looks like since she's a rock star. But Karmasartre, you remain a mystery... and your name is intriguing... Do you channel Simone de Beauvoir? <BR/><BR/>Anyhow, it's great to be back. Puzzle was...okay with few excellent spots. And Rex, I loved your response about Apu. I feel so... knowledgeable now!foodiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13052189131129098616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-78620718209274096382008-09-15T17:51:00.001-04:002008-09-15T17:51:00.001-04:00Just as I was going to post on yesterday's puzzle ...Just as I was going to post on yesterday's puzzle the power went out. I think I was going to ask what color is dk's peruke. Seems ages ago. We've been caught up in the hurricane here in Ohio. Lots of trees down. Saw a smashed car (by tree) and broken house (again by tree). Just got the internet back an hour ago. I sure did miss the puzzle and everybody's comments until now. I thought it was a good Monday, perhaps a bit more difficult than usual which I like.<BR/><BR/>@dk: what color is your peruke?<BR/>@markus: I hope your power is back on.<BR/>@karmasartre: thanks for your comments on the tournament, very interesting.johonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-86922905865299074822008-09-15T17:51:00.000-04:002008-09-15T17:51:00.000-04:00Just as I was going to post on yesterday's puzzle ...Just as I was going to post on yesterday's puzzle the power went out. I think I was going to ask what color is dk's peruke. Seems ages ago. We've been caught up in the hurricane here in Ohio. Lots of trees down. Saw a smashed car (by tree) and broken house (again by tree). Just got the internet back an hour ago. I sure did miss the puzzle and everybody's comments until now. I thought it was a good Monday, perhaps a bit more difficult than usual which I like.<BR/><BR/>@dk: what color is your peruke?<BR/>@markus: I hope your power is back on.<BR/>@karmasartre: thanks for your comments on the tournament, very interesting.johonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-72679476270332910922008-09-15T17:21:00.000-04:002008-09-15T17:21:00.000-04:00@will nediger: just read an article on Hofstadter'...@will nediger: just read an article on Hofstadter's opinion on <BR/>"guys" and I now realize that this sort of thing has indeed been going on for years and years in Dutch! The word "jongens", which literally means boys, is used to get the attention of mixed gender groups, or even a group of female friends. Just like the American "guys", it is only acceptable in a very casual situation. My pilates instructor calls us "people" when she wants our attention.....machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-85138241407848866642008-09-15T17:08:00.000-04:002008-09-15T17:08:00.000-04:00Nerd...nerd...how I wish I could be a nerd. I don...Nerd...nerd...how I wish I could be a nerd. I don't think there is really a term for us theatre nerds, although I think "dork" is probably pretty close.greenenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35115061.post-52198118573996967862008-09-15T16:49:00.003-04:002008-09-15T16:49:00.003-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.machttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06794371617847975218noreply@blogger.com